The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-21
APPOINTMENTS TO OFFICE.

More Abont Offensive Partisanebip-A Con-
vfctsd smuYgler Given Plsce.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 20-In relation to the
nomination of Frank p Motto, to be postm aster
at Odebolt Ia. in place Of T. r. Bennet, sus-
pended, the Senate postoffice committee reports
that nothingappears in the papers ipjuriously re-
f1ecting upon the personal or official character
or conduct of the suspended officer, whose sus
pension was undoubtedly induced by political
considerations
In relation to the nomination of Samuel L.
Harvey, to be postmaster at Centerville Ia, vice
Eugene G. Haynes, the postoffice committee says
1.-The suspended officer is disabled soldier, hav
ing lost an arm in the service Of the country.
He was an efficient postmaster, and gave great
satisfaction to the patrons of his office. There
are no charges, and his suspension was purely
partisan, and in violation of the law giving to
disabled soldiers preference IL appointments to
civil Offices" but he informed the committee that
he did not desire to resist the confirmation of his
successor Hence the nominee is favorably re-
ported.
In connection with the confirmation of 8. A.
Leavitt to be collector of customs at Passa-
lnaquoddy Me-, the Senate makes public two
documents. The first is a letter to Senator Nc
MILAN, marked Confidential" dated Washing
ton D. c., Dec Is, 1856. The writer calls at
tention to the confirmation, and states that hav-
ing had occasion to examine the papers filed by
applicants for the Office some months ago. he
found among them a certified copy Of tho record
of the United States District Court at Portland,
Me-, showing that Leavtt had been convicted,
somewhere between 1860 and 1860, Of the crime
OF smuggling. and had been sentenced to pay q
fne therefor. The writer thinks it hardly pos.
sible that the President could have knowingly
appointed q convicted smuggler to collect the
revenues at place which affords such opportu-
mites for smuggling, and suggests a possibili-
ty that the paper may have been secretly alb.
stracted from the ffaes. before the other docu-
ments were taken to the President. He adds:
I'm case of the candidates confirmation, shall
feel at liberty to make public all the facts, to-
Rether with copy Of this letter. for desire to
know whether the Senate does really scrutinize
| the Presidents appointments when they have a
| good reason therefor which is not founded UPON
partisan politics. AS I am in the government
employ, you will see the necessity for my with
| holding my name for the present"
The other is an affidavit bv Mr. Leavitt set
| ting forth that in 1866 Mr.. Horton left in his
| Office package for q man Whose name Leavitt
| does not remember) to call and examine The
| package which was said to contain a pound OF
! morphine, was subsequently taken away by
| Horton. This was made the "pretended basis
| of suit" against Leavift, which was, however
never brought to trial, Leavitt paying costs and
| marshals fees, by advice of his counsel, Hon.
| Bion Bradbury. He was never even accused OF
| any violation of law. An Endorsement by Mr..
Bradbury is to the effect that the statements in
| the af1idavits are in accordance with the facts
and that the costs were paid to save the expense
| of litigation.